3. Kvelertak - Meir
There are not many bands out there that sound quite like Kvelertak. With their successful debut self-titled effort in 2011, they caught many people off guard with the sheer pounding enthusiasm of their metal-punk-classic rock hybrid. One of the reasons that Kvelertak are so instantly accessible, despite singing almost entirely in their native language of Norwegian (along with the occasional line of Swedish), is due to the fact that they are able to blatantly display their different music influences while still managing to sound completely fresh and relevant to this generation. With their second release, Meir (literally meaning More in Norwegian), the band have continued upwards on the same trajectory that they began on their debut. This time around they open the record with a slow burner, Apenbaring, beginning with a single catchy guitar riff, soon joined by its two companions before the bass and drums thump into life, serving almost as a welcome to the album. When the drums kickstart the second track Spring fra Livet, it feels as though the record truly springs to life. Meir is notably faster than the previous record, culminating with the one-two combo of Snilepisk and Manelyst at the mid-point of the record (the second of which potentially has one of the most badass music videos of all time - especially if you love horror films). The second half of the album contains several slow burners that develop in massive riff-fests, the likes of which should be filling larger venues than the small clubs that the band are currently playing. The closing track on the album is named after the band itself, Kvelertak - a fist-pumping banger of a party anthem which you could imagine the band playing as they travel from city to city whilst touring the world. With Meir, Kvelertak have further showcased their ability to fill the listener with a sudden desire to smash things; beers, tables, heads, you name it. Crucially, all these feelings are inspired in a positive vein - Kvelertak are a band who know how to not take themselves too seriously, which perhaps makes them somewhat of a minority within their musical circle.